A reluctant pedal/steel question

[BrokenBiker]

I bought a cheap pencil torch once to try. It wasn't very good. There's a lot of weight from the cables acting at the top of the pencil which very quickly makes it very tiring to hold. I suppose if you had a sky hook to support the cables it could be OK but I didn't find it worth faffing on to find out.

I chuck the cables over my shoulder for most tig welding

 

[wyn]

I always use 4T ......press the switch once then forget about it until you get to the end of the weld.

 

[indykid]

She isn't going to have half of this stuff in industry, so I'd advise learning and becoming proficient with as basic a rig as humanly possible unless she plans to be self employed all her life.

The bells and whistles won't ever hold you back, but if you can't weld without them, you're not a very attractive proposition over the next candidate if all you have is your instagram profile as your CV.

 

[Craig-S]

She isn't going to have half of this stuff in industry, so I'd advise learning and becoming proficient with as basic a rig as humanly possible unless she plans to be self employed all her life.

The bells and whistles won't ever hold you back, but if you can't weld without them, you're not a very attractive proposition over the next candidate if all you have is your instagram profile as your CV.

The welding is both for her to learn as well as a hobby for me although it was initially for her learn more than her college course gives her. She is studying engineering, not dedicated welding.

I see nothing wrong with learning as much as possible for any eventuality, id imagine if you have the bells you can learn which to use for the current situation and if you can use both a switch and a pedal then that would make you a better candidate than someone that can only use one thing.

Im not really sure about instagram, no one in my family has that tat or any other social media.

 

[tom2207]

The welding is both for her to learn as well as a hobby for me although it was initially for her learn more than her college course gives her. She is studying engineering, not dedicated welding.

I see nothing wrong with learning as much as possible for any eventuality, id imagine if you have the bells you can learn which to use for the current situation and if you can use both a switch and a pedal then that would make you a better candidate than someone that can only use one thing.

Im not really sure about instagram, no one in my family has that tat or any other social media.

knowledge is easily carried.

 

[addjunkie]

Keep the button, I really struggled until I bought a small wp9 torch, was like night and day in the learning process.

I too support the hoses around my neck so my arm is only supporting the torch.

 

[Craig-S]

Keep the button, I really struggled until I bought a small wp9 torch, was like night and day in the learning process.

I too support the hoses around my neck so my arm is only supporting the torch.

Well my basket was loaded for the pedal, but now you have thrown a spanner in the works. Why did the wp9 work better than the wp17?

 

[tom2207]

try the cheap pedal thing first ,,, less money and always useful once you can stop worrying about being able to press the trigger with your hand you can hold the torch any way you like ,,, [ I still do most work with a 26 ] Im used to a mig torch and a 26 is still small enough to be comfy and it will handle what ever I need done ,,, slower to toast up on small things and big enough not to worry if I have bigger things to weld ,,,

 

[Craig-S]

it seems im looking for technical solutions for a problem that realistically requires just more practice and less frustration. that being said R-Tech do a WP9 flex lock torch that it seems would put my hand in a better place in terms of the switch and more control where i dont feel the end of the torch is flapping in the breeze.

i suppose it might be a decent idea to pay for some tuition also....

 

[tom2207]

it seems im looking for technical solutions for a problem that realistically requires just more practice and less frustration. that being said R-Tech do a WP9 flex lock torch that it seems would put my hand in a better place in terms of the switch and more control where i dont feel the end of the torch is flapping in the breeze.

i suppose it might be a decent idea to pay for some tuition also....

an afternoon with someone who can weld is all you will need ,,, after that its get onto you tube , jody over at welding tips and tricks has some of the best arc shots in the business ,,, but remember folk spend years getting the basics of welding right ,,, tig is probably the hardest to get right as theres a lot going on and its fairly precise ,,, dont expect to be an expert in two weeks ,,, Im at it forty years plus now ,,,, and you know what ,,, Im kinda getting the hang of it now
practice and patience

as a by note , Ive had a welder and no pedal for a couple of weeks now , postie just delivered a pedal an hour ago , so plugged in and tested .... omg bench welding without a pedal is like eating peas with only a knife.

 

[Craig-S]

an afternoon with someone who can weld is all you will need ,,, after that its get onto you tube , jody over at welding tips and tricks has some of the best arc shots in the business ,,, but remember folk spend years getting the basics of welding right ,,, tig is probably the hardest to get right as theres a lot going on and its fairly precise ,,, dont expect to be an expert in two weeks ,,, Im at it forty years plus now ,,,, and you know what ,,, Im kinda getting the hang of it now
practice and patience

as a by note , Ive had a welder and no pedal for a couple of weeks now , postie just delivered a pedal an hour ago , so plugged in and tested .... omg bench welding without a pedal is like eating peas with only a knife.

well bug*er it, ive ordered the SSC foot pedal, whats the worst that can happen.

 

[tom2207]

well bug*er it, ive ordered the SSC foot pedal, whats the worst that can happen.

all that will happen is you will wonder how you got by without it ,,, [ ssc pedals are nice] [[ I made a foot hook for mine and it was even nicer ]]
go watch Jody , at welding tips and tricks ,,, that will pass an hour or two ,,,

but

you really dont need a Tig Finger

[ Yet ]

 

[Craig-S]

all that will happen is you will wonder how you got by without it ,,, [ ssc pedals are nice]
go watch Jody , at welding tips and tricks ,,, that will pass an hour or two ,,,

but

you really dont need a Tig Finger

[ Yet ]

you people are the worst for someones financial standing lol

 

[tom2207]

you people are the worst for someones financial standing lol

wait till you decide you need a
welding table
a lathe
a mill
and
a thermo nuclear sewage pump ,,,

 

[addjunkie]

well bug*er it, ive ordered the SSC foot pedal, whats the worst that can happen.

Your Mrs smashes it over your head when she sees the credit card bill!

I like the small light torch, I find it easier to control, I use a water cooler now so with 200 amps one wp 20 torch works for everything. If sat at a bench I try to rest my forearms on the bench or a bit of 3x2 or similar, I try to remove as many things that cause me to wobble about as possible.

 

[tom2207]

like beer ,,, and sticky toffee pudding ,,,, mmmmm

they cause me to wobble about a bit too .

 

[Craig-S]

wait till you decide you need a
welding table
a lathe
a mill
and
a thermo nuclear sewage pump ,,,

I decided this was just going to be something to tinker with when my daughter wasnt playing. I previously made furniture pieces and boxes etc. in wood. so in the last 2 years i decided to cancel woodworking to downsize in preparation to move. some of the bigger things that went was an 18" bandsaw, 12" planer/thicknesser. tablesaw, mitre saw, big dust extractor plus a bunch of festool gear.

A previous item (not welded)

anyway, those days are done and i dont want to fill up the garage with gear again, luckily the welding stuff along with my current tools can all go in a container

 

[Craig-S]

Your Mrs smashes it over your head when she sees the credit card bill!

I like the small light torch, I find it easier to control, I use a water cooler now so with 200 amps one wp 20 torch works for everything. If sat at a bench I try to rest my forearms on the bench or a bit of 3x2 or similar, I try to remove as many things that cause me to wobble about as possible.

I think ill hold off on a smaller torch now until i get a water cooler......but thats not for the foreseeable future.

 

[addjunkie]

I decided this was just going to be something to tinker with when my daughter wasnt playing. I previously made furniture pieces and boxes etc. in wood. so in the last 2 years i decided to cancel woodworking to downsize in preparation to move. some of the bigger things that went was an 18" bandsaw, 12" planer/thicknesser. tablesaw, mitre saw, big dust extractor plus a bunch of festool gear.

View attachment 520794

A previous item (not welded)

anyway, those days are done and i dont want to fill up the garage with gear again, luckily the welding stuff along with my current tools can all go in a container

If your moving youll need to have space for a wood and a metal shed. Once you retire you get more free time to fill. One should never sell tools, you might need them one day!

 

[Craig-S]

If your moving youll need to have space for a wood and a metal shed. Once you retire you get more free time to fill. One should never sell tools, you might need them one day!

Alas I will be going to the other side of the world, im not sure ill have the room